Family-owned precision machine shop · Aurora, Illinois · Since 1986

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Materials · Thermosets and laminates

Phenolic machining

Custom phenolic parts CNC machined to your drawing or sample: wear rings, gears, bushings, insulators and other parts in paper, canvas and linen grades. Machined in our Aurora, Illinois shop.

Quote a phenolic part (630) 904-2525

Phenolic at a glance

Full name
Phenolic laminate: layers of paper, canvas or linen bonded with phenolic resin
Also called
Micarta®, and by grade: XX, C, CE, L, LE
Known for
Wear resistance, electrical insulation and low cost
Common in
Electrical equipment, pumps, gearboxes and industrial machinery
Forms
Sheet, rod and tube

Parts in phenolic

Phenolic parts we machine

The parts we see most often in phenolic, and why it suits each job. We machine any phenolic part to your drawing or sample, listed here or not.

Need a different phenolic part? Send the drawing, or the old part, and we’ll quote it. Request a quote

Is phenolic right for the part?

Where phenolic works, and where another plastic may suit

General guidance on how phenolic behaves. If your drawing specifies a phenolic grade or Micarta®, we machine to it.

Where it works

Wear
Canvas and linen grades wear well in gears, bearings and wear parts.
Insulation
A good electrical insulator, widely used for electrical parts.
Heat
A thermoset, so it doesn’t melt like most plastics.
Cost
Costs less than glass laminates such as G10.

Where another plastic may suit

If the part needs Often used instead
Wet service Paper and cotton grades take on moisture and can grow slightly. These take on less.
Caustic chemicals Strong alkalis attack phenolic. These resist them.
Highest strength Glass laminates and high-performance plastics are stronger and stiffer.

Precision in phenolic

How we machine phenolic

±0.002"–±0.005" On critical dimensions, depending on the plastic

Phenolic is rigid, so it machines to close size. Paper and cotton grades take on some moisture, which we allow for when holding the tightest dimensions. We confirm the critical dimensions with your quote.

  1. Tooling

    The resin and fabric in phenolic dull ordinary cutters.

    We use carbide tooling, so edges stay clean and sizes hold.

  2. Edges

    Laminate can chip or fray where the cutter exits.

    We use sharp tools and support the part at the exit.

  3. Threads

    Threads cut across the layers can tear.

    We cut them with sharp tools and a controlled feed, so they come out clean.

Grades

Phenolic grades

Phenolic grades are named for the layer inside: paper, canvas or linen. Name the grade on your drawing, or tell us how the part is used and we’ll suggest one.

Grade Typically used for
XX (paper) Electrical parts and low-cost general parts.
C (canvas) Gears, bearings and wear parts that take shock.
CE (canvas, electrical) Tough parts that also need to insulate.
L and LE (linen) Smaller, detailed parts with a finer finish. LE is the electrical grade.
G10 (glass-epoxy) When the part needs more strength and less moisture uptake. G10

Buyer questions

Phenolic FAQs

Something else? Call (630) 904-2525.

All plastics we machine

Micarta® is a brand of laminate, best known for its phenolic grades. If your drawing specifies Micarta or a grade such as CE or LE, we machine to it. CDS isn’t affiliated with the Micarta trademark owner.

G10 is stronger and stiffer, and takes on less water. Phenolic costs less, and its canvas and linen grades are a long-standing choice for gears and wear parts. If your drawing specifies one, we machine to it.

Yes. We supply phenolic sheet, cut to size when you need it, through our material supply service.

Getting a quote

Start with what you have

A drawing, a sketch or the worn or broken phenolic part itself. Our experienced team takes it from there.

Request a quote (630) 904-2525
When a breakdown can’t wait, ask about our expedited service